Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $310,811 and $297,655, respectively; allowance for credit loss of $81 and $0, respectively)	$ 354,809	$ 327,820
Equity securities, at estimated fair value	1,079	1,342
Contractholder-directed equity securities and fair value option securities, at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $3, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	13,319	13,102
Mortgage loans (net of allowance for credit loss of $590 and $353, respectively; includes $165 and $188, respectively, under the fair value option and $0 and $59, respectively, of mortgage loans held-for-sale)	83,919	80,529
Policy loans	9,493	9,680
Real estate and real estate joint ventures (includes $169 and $127, respectively, under the fair value option and $128 and $0, respectively, of real estate held-for-sale)	11,933	10,741
Other limited partnership interests	9,470	7,716
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	3,904	3,850
Other invested assets (includes $2,156 and $2,299, respectively, of leveraged and direct financing leases and $332 and $290, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	20,593	19,015
Total investments	508,519	473,795
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value (includes $12 and $12, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	19,795	16,598
Accrued investment income	3,388	3,523
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (includes $4 and $4, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	17,870	20,443
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	16,389	17,833
Goodwill	10,112	9,308
Assets held-for-sale	7,418	0
Other assets (includes $1 and $2, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	11,685	10,518
Separate account assets	199,970	188,445
Total assets	795,146	740,463
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	206,656	194,909
Policyholder account balances	205,176	192,627
Other policy-related balances	17,101	17,171
Policyholder dividends payable	587	681
Policyholder dividend obligation	2,969	2,020
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	29,475	26,745
Short-term debt	393	235
Long-term debt (includes $5 and $5, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	14,603	13,466
Collateral financing arrangement	845	993
Junior subordinated debt securities	3,153	3,150
Current income tax payable	129	363
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities, Net	11,008	9,097
Liabilities held-for-sale	4,650	0
Other liabilities (includes $1 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	23,614	24,179
Separate account liabilities	199,970	188,445
Total liabilities	720,329	674,081
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 21)
MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; $4,405 and $3,405, respectively, aggregate liquidation preference	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; 1,181,614,288 and 1,177,680,299 shares issued, respectively; 892,910,600 and 915,338,098 shares outstanding, respectively	12	12
Additional paid-in capital	33,812	32,680
Retained earnings	36,491	33,078
Treasury stock, at cost; 288,703,688 and 262,342,201 shares, respectively	(13,829)	(12,678)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	18,072	13,052
Total MetLife, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity	74,558	66,144
Noncontrolling interests	259	238
Total equity	74,817	66,382
Total liabilities and equity	$ 795,146	$ 740,463